Mary Akerson

July 7, 2011

Mary Akerson, a ten-year resident of Colville, passed away on June 30 at the age of 105.
She was born on May 3, 1906 in North Carolina and moved to Missouri at a young age. In grade school, her parents moved the family to Montana, where they did not find enough good farmland and then moved back to Missouri, where she graduated from high school. After high school, Mary attended a teaching summer school in Miles City, Montana so she could teach for one year without having to go to college. After one year of teaching, she attended and graduated from Dillon, Montana Teachers College.
Mary taught all grades, in one room school houses throughout Eastern Montana. She often lived with studentâ€™s families or in the teacherage behind the school house. When in college, she became friends with two of her future sisters-in-law.
One spring break, Mary went home with them and met their brother, Arthur Akerson. That started a nine-year courtship and led to their marriage in Great Falls, Montana.
Mary and her husband moved in with her mother-in-law after they were married in Bonner, Montana while Arthur built a house on the property. They moved into the house when their only daughter was very young. Mary and her husband lived in the house he built for 63 years.
She moved to Colville 10 years ago to be closer to family. Mary was an amazing lady. Her strong will, wit and charm will be missed by many.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Betty Jo and Richard Oâ€™Brien Sr., of Colville; several nieces, nephews, four grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and one great-great- grandchild.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband and six brothers.
Danekas Funeral Chapel and Crematory is entrusted with the arrangements.